Stylus for producing illuminated sentences.



No. 635,8!4. Patented Oct. 3|, I8 99.

J. SCOTT.

STYLUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUMINATED SENTENGES (Application filed Mar. 31, 1899.)

(No Model.)

W 55/ Qw/M Z flrfif' Nrrnn STATES ATENT FFIQE.

JOSIAH SCOTT, OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

STYLUS FOR PRODUCING ILLUMINATED SENTENCES.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 635,814, dated October 31, 1899.

Application filed March 31, 1899.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, J OsIAH SCOTT, of Toledo, county of Lucas, and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Styluses for Producing Illuminated Sentences; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

My invention has reference to a stylus for producing illuminated letters and characters on a darkened field and is designed to produce a flash effect While employed in the opopation of writing.

My invention is adapted to be used in connection with a slate, which I will describe later. I have made former application for Letters Patent for an electric advertising device, filed March 10, 1899, Serial No. 708,484, in which I attain practically the same effect which I do with my present invention. In the former application the flash effect is produced mechanically by embedding strips of metal in the writing-face of the particular slate described. In my present device the flash effect is controlled by the operator.

My invention further embodies certain novel features of construction hereinafter shown, described, and claimed.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is aview to show the application of my device. Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the stylus. Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the holder for the writingstrip, and contact-stri p removed from the handle of the stylus. Fig. 4 is an end elevation of the holder. Fig. 5 is a longitudinal section of my device to disclose the construction thereof.

The slate hereinbefore referred to and in connection with which my device is to be used consists of a frame 1, surrounding a writingface of glass 2, to be covered by an opaque paint designed to be removed along the path traversed by the stylus 3 and permit the light from an incandescent lamp or other source confined to the rear of the face 2 to pass Serial No. 711,219. (No moat- 1.)

therethrough and cause the same to appear illuminated. In this mannerilluminated sentences and pictures can be be made to appear upon the face of the slate. Stylus 3 is composed of a handle 4, of hard rubber, fiber, or other electrically non-conductin g and insulating material. Handle 4 is bifurcated at 5 to receive the holder 6 and has a longitudinal opening centrally thereof for the passage of the connecting-wire 7 of an electric circuit 8. Attached to the handle 4 by a screw 9 is a spring 10, connected at 11 to the wire 12 of circuit 8.

13 is a carbon-holder secured to end of spring 10 and adapted to receive a short length of carbon 14, 15 being a set-screw to retain the same. Spring 10 is preferably divided'into two sections, as shown at 16. The two sec tions are then riveted together, with a section of non-heat-conducting material, as asbestos, between them, the rivets 17 still forming an electrical connection between the sections of spring 10. Holder 6 is formed of sheet metal, with guides 18 to receive a piece of metal or carbon 19, which acts as a contact, having connected thereto in any suitable manner the wire '7. Holder 6 is further formed with guides 20, bent in a direction opposite to guides 18 and adapted to receive a strip of leather or other suitable material, the purpose of which is to take up the paint upon the face of the slate. The spring 10 when depressed will cause the carbon secured to the end thereof to contact with the carbon or metal strip 19 at 21, so that an arc will be produced at 21 when the spring 10 is released to assume its normally-raised position. As this arcing is produced at short intervals, the parts in proximity thereto become hot. For this reason I divide the spring 10 into two sections and place between the overlapping ends a section of asbestos or other suitable material to prevent the portion of the spring in contact with the finger from becoming hot, the rivets connecting the two sections together and permitting the current to pass.

By constructing the handle of non-conducting material the metal spring is insulated from the strip 19 and only makes connection when the spring is depressed by the finger.

To prevent the strip of leather which serves as a writing-point from becoming scorched, I treat the same with sodium silicate or other chemical suitable for the purpose to cause it to become refractory to heat.

I prefer to use leather for the writing-point, because the paint along the path traversed by the stylus is removed more effectively thereby than any other material.

In the application of my device the operator grasps the stylus, as shown in Fig. 1, placing his index-finger upon the spring 10. This is the natural position assumed in writing, and for this reason I have disposed the parts as shown. He then writes a sentence or draws a picture, as he sees fit, which will appear illuminated upon the slate, and also depresses spring 10 at intervals, causing carbon point 14 to contact with carbon strip 19 and to produce an are, there being a suitable resistance interposed in circuit 8 when the two are separated by raising the finger, the carbon point It being normally out of contact with strip 19, because of the normally-raised position of spring 10. The writing-point, being broad in proportion to its thickness, produces the wellknown form of round writing. When it is desired to obliterate the writing on the slate, the face thereof is painted over and is again ready for the operation of writing.

I wish it understood that my present device is to be used for advertising purposes, and the full utility thereof will be apparent on the examination of my former application for Letters Patent for an advertising device hereinbefore referred to and to which this device bears close relation.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In astylus for producingilluminated letters and characters on a darkened field, a handle composed of insulating material, bifurcated to receive a metal holder, into which is adapted to be inserted a strip to remove the paint on the face of a slate, and a carbon or metal strip to serve as a contact; a spring attached to said handle having secured to the end thereof a section of carbon, an electric circuit controlled by said spring and adapted to produce an are when the springis operated manually, substantially as shown and described.

2. In a stylus for producing illuminated writing, a bifurcated handle, adapted to receive a metal holder, having oppositely-disposed guides, one to receive a leather strip, the other a carbon contact-strip; a spring attached to the handle, composed of two sections, riveted together with non-heat 'conducting material between them, a carbon point on the end of said spring, the terminals of an electric circuit attached to the spring and the carbon strip respectively and means for producing an are between the carbon point and the carbon contact-strip, substantially as shown and described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I affi x my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSIAH SCOTT.

Witnesses:

CARL H. KELLER, H. S. WooDBURY. 

